In a revolutionary move bordering on schismatic, African archbishops unilaterally announced Sunday in Jerusalem that they have taken over the leadership of the Anglican Church from England and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Southern Cone, Uganda and West Africa and, later, the Anglican Church of Tanzania, will form a new Council of Primates purporting to provide new leadership for the Anglican Communion, according to press release published at the end of a seven-day conference held in Jerusalem.
“The uniqueness of the Jerusalem Declaration is that the Africans are sending out a clear message to England saying in essence that this is our church,” said Rev. Dr. Arne H. Fjeldstad, Head of Communications for the Global Anglican Future (GAFCON) conference, which ended Sunday.
How can usurp power from a man who claims to have none?
The GS isn’t usurping power, they are taking a page from the revisionists and changing the facts on the ground.
Shades of the Lutheran revolution. What goes around comes around.
It is a stretch to claim that a group that is affirming the founding principals of an organization is ‘bordering on schismatic’!
I have just seen Jim Naughton’s extremely patronising, if not racist, take on the communique:
[blockquote] Step back from the details of this particular document for a moment, and consider the nature of GAFCON. It has brought together bishops from some of the poorest countries on Earth to deliver the residents of some of the richest suburbs in America from living in a Church to which they cannot dictate terms. ….
Posted by Jim Naughton | June 28, 2008 7:39 PM [/blockquote]
from here
http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/anglican_communion/gafcon_statement_1.html
I am particularly intrigued by the assumption that wealth equates with correct theology!
In the physical world it has been said that “Nature abhors a vacuum” and such a condition will not exist for very long.
The office of the ABC has endured a leadership vacuum. That vacuum is now being filled by those willing to lead.
“In a revolutionary move bordering on schismatic, African archbishops unilaterally announced Sunday in Jerusalem that they have taken over the leadership of the Anglican Church from England and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.”
If I follow the logic of the writer, every time there is an election for office, and the person in office loses the vote count, then the voters are being schismatic? I thought that was democracy: a choice.
In the case of the AC, the leaders of the various Anglican Churches who represent 3/4’s of the AC’s world membership have given the AoC a fair warning. Again, a choice.
H